Digestive Disease Center

Had a procedure here once but I’ve been here 3 times. So far, my experiences are ok. They have two connecting offices; one for consultations/​follow-​ups and the other side is for the actual procedures.
The receptionists on both sides were nice and professional. They are not your typical family doctor that knows you very well, which I understand because they don’t see the same people like your family doctor would. Trust me, you don’t want to be a repeat patient when it comes to Digestive diseases!
Inside the consultation side of the clinic, all the technicians and PA’S were very nice, friendly, and tend to talk more about personal stuff (there’s your sign!) Because they have to :).
On the other side of the wall, the nurses are attentive and very caring. HOWEVER, the plastic needle of my IV was not inserted perfectly so I was uncomfortable the entire time I was waiting for my procedure. I mentioned it to the nurse and she asked if I want her to do it again (since it meant she has to poke me again, I said no :() Wrong decision! 30 minutes later, they rolled me into the procedure room. I couldn’t stand the discomfort anymore, I told the nurse that my IV was really hurting, she fixed it and oh my! It made a huge difference!
Lesson learned, I should have let the nurse fix the IV when she offered the first time, because the discomfort, was not worth it.
For my follow up check-​up, the receptionist was friendlier than before, PA was the same but the staff inside was having a bad day. She did not even smile or make eye contact.
I have another follow up appointment in two months. Let’s see if something changes, definitely I hope for the better.

This office did a couple procedures on me and everything went well. Staff was nice. PA-​C Geo. Matthew was very nice and explained things completely. I had a good experience here. My procedure next door in the outpatient clinic was fine. Nurses were nice and my Dr. was very nice. It was fine. Not great, not trendy, not fancy offices, but fine. THis place is very «vanilla». No bells and whistles, just business. That works for me.

I began going to this facility in January of 2014 with very serious symptom complaints. Even though I lived, worked, and went to school in AZ, my insurance carrier would only allow me to receive care in California. The commute is around 9 hours and is not cheap. This made my case, rather. difficult for the office, but not extremely so. The physician I saw was named Geo Matthew and he, along with many on the clerical staff, are the worst medical professionals I’ve ever encountered.
I had two procedures performed here, both of which I was not sedated thoroughly enough before beginning. Not only was this traumatizing, but extremely uncomfortable and painful. After these procedures, the doctor on duty prematurely diagnosed me with Crohn’s Disease and began me on medications to treat the condition.
After not responding to medications, the office decides to put in a request for an IV Biological treatment. A couple of days after the order is submitted, I returned to the office before embarking on another journey back to Arizona (with the hopes of returning to California to receive biological treatment) with complaints of severe pain and constipation (2 atypical symptoms of Crohn’s). The PA, Geo Matthew, treated me like I was a waste of his time and told me to «drink some miralax on the drive». Feeling like I have no help, I leave for California. It wasn’t even 5 hours later, in the middle of the trip, that I knew I needed to seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Thankfully, the hospital in Arizona provided impeccable care. I was admitted as «Obstipated», a type of constipation that is capable of rupturing internal organs and usually requires prompt medical attention. The worst part: The hospital in AZ believes I never had Crohn’s in the first place. In fact, the medications they had me on could have potentially caused my hospitalization.
AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS.

You know. I really had a tough time deciding how I was going to rate this place. I have been here 3 times: once for an outrageously priced appointment (where I got an Rx and a referral to the other side of the building for a procedure), and twice on the endoscopy side for 2 different procedures.
I had a procedure Monday where the receptionist and intake nurses were very friendly. This is where I get a little annoyed at the way I was treated. RIGHT as I was being sedated, I asked my RN if I was going to be okay… just for the reassurance. Her name is Phyllis… she grimaced and shrugged. That is like, the LAST thing you want as a reaction to whether or not you’re going to be okay! Anyway, I was awake most of the procedure crying and talking. Afterwards in recovery, a few nurses (I only remember Judy as I happened to have her as my intake nurse a couple days later) were very unfriendly while I was coming out of my sedation… do you think I won’t remember you being rude to me?!
Next procedure 2 days later: Sylvia (receptionist) was kind as always. I told my intake nurses Judy & Phyllis how I woke up during my last procedure and to please give me more medicine so I am not awake and talking during this one. They refused stating I would «be fine.» NOPE! I was awake with tears streaming down my cheeks this time.
What really upsets me though, is that my mom went it a day after me, asked for extra sedation and they gave it to her.
I feel like the kindness of the receptionist doesn’t make up for these poor qualities due to the fact that they are all connected and the actual procedure weighs a little heavier in my mind. I am still emotionally upset at the memories I have of my procedures and HIGHLY recommend you do not have your procedure here unless you can convince them to thoroughly sedate you. Even then, they’ll bully you in recovery. :(